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It's official... Couples just aren't
talking to each other about their wants,
needs, fears, hopes and dreams for the
second half of their lives.
A recent survey of 502 married couples
approaching retirement uncovered the
fact that wives and husbands often had
different understandings of their plans
and preparations for life after the
office (or shop, or factory, or... you
fill in the blank):
• 61% disagreed on which income
source (workplace savings, pensions,
Social Security, etc.) would be their
primary source of funds in retirement.
• 58% disagreed about whom their
spouse would turn to for financial
guidance in the event of the other
spouse's death.
• 41% disagreed about whether at
least one partner would work in
retirement.
• 39% differed on the amount of
their life-insurance coverage.
Note: Spouses were questioned
individually. On average, surveyed
couples had been married 24 years and
were nine years away from their expected
retirement. Husbands were 54 years old,
on average; wives were 53.
(Source: Fidelity Investments)
The failure to develop a clear
understanding of your own retirement
expectations, the expectations of your
spouse or partner and how to blend the
two together can be a recipe for
retirement disaster...
For example, what would your ideal
retirement look and feel like? Does your
vision of your ideal retirement match
that of your partner?
What is your definition of 'healthy
togetherness' with your partner? And
does your partner share that definition?
Do you suspect that you may want to
spend more time with your loved one than
they are prepared to give? In other
words, do they have other plans for how
they will spend their time and who they
spend it with? Or vice versa?
Where do you want to spend your
retirement and what factors are
important when choosing a place to live
at this stage in your life? Does your
partner agree?
As a couple, have you been too cautious
in your life thus far, or not cautious
enough? What needs to change?
If you and your partner both retired at
the same time, would you be able to cope
with suddenly spending large amounts of
time together or would you be sick of
the sight of each other within a
fortnight?
Even couples who have happily rubbed
along together for many years can by
surprised by the effects that retirement
can have upon their relationship.
And the best way to avoid any issues in
the first place (or resolve them
satisfactorily when they do arise) is to
talk to each other. To speak honestly
and openly about your wants, needs,
hopes, fears and dreams for your future,
and to listen with understanding and
compassion when your partner does the
same thing.
The new Couples Talking Retirement
course can help you with that. By
helping you ask the right questions
in order to:
-
uncover the differences between your
perceptions and understanding of
what your life in retirement will be
like and those of your partner
-
highlight potential challenges
-
enable you to work together to
minimise the likelihood of future
problems arising and
-
find the middle ground that will
ensure that you both get the retirement you
deserve..
Course fees are £347 per couple.
Course dates for 2008
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Dates |
Location |
Course |
|
24 June |
Manchester |
Couples Talking Retirement |
|
22 July |
Manchester |
Couples Talking Retirement |
|
09
Sept. |
York |
Couples Talking Retirement |
|
23 Sept. |
Manchester |
Couples Talking Retirement |
|
21 October |
York |
Couples Talking Retirement |
|
25 Nov. |
Manchester |
Couples Talking Retirement |
|
02
Dec. |
York |
Couples Talking Retirement |
|
16 Dec. |
Manchester |
Couples Talking Retirement |
|
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